Comments on: Goodbye AT&T, I’m out http://srobbin.com/blog/goodbye-att-im-out/ A variety of articles, projects and by web developer, Scott Robbin. Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:26:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Derek Miller http://srobbin.com/blog/goodbye-att-im-out/#comment-705 Derek Miller Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:24:38 +0000 http://srobbin.com/blog/?p=374#comment-705 I know this is now an old thread (great post, btw), but I just called AT&T in attempt to resolve some service issues. AT&T customer care specialist Austin assured me that could he could not check for dropped calls. He also said that Chicago -- and my area specifically -- gets the best service available. I'm not the type of dude to lose his temper over, well, pretty much anything. However, I almost felt like he was goading me. It was bizarre. And my first call to AT&T was dropped midway through. I know this is now an old thread (great post, btw), but I just called AT&T in attempt to resolve some service issues. AT&T customer care specialist Austin assured me that could he could not check for dropped calls. He also said that Chicago — and my area specifically — gets the best service available.

I’m not the type of dude to lose his temper over, well, pretty much anything. However, I almost felt like he was goading me. It was bizarre.

And my first call to AT&T was dropped midway through.

]]> By: Scott Robbin http://srobbin.com/blog/goodbye-att-im-out/#comment-699 Scott Robbin Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:33:58 +0000 http://srobbin.com/blog/?p=374#comment-699 Kate: Yes, that's a very good reason to contact AT&T. Stacy: Wow. Adding Google Voice as a fave? Brilliant! Kate: Yes, that’s a very good reason to contact AT&T.

Stacy: Wow. Adding Google Voice as a fave? Brilliant!

]]> By: Stacy http://srobbin.com/blog/goodbye-att-im-out/#comment-693 Stacy Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:33:29 +0000 http://srobbin.com/blog/?p=374#comment-693 Isn't it amazing? I did this too, and I can't believe how much better my service is. I don't even miss 3G (or visual voicemail, for that matter). For the most part I find that Edge is fine for checking email, getting directions/maps, and looking stuff up quickly. I'm usually around some wi-fi anyway, so it's not a big deal. My phone bill is SO much lower now too, mainly because of the my faves plan plus Google Voice. I use GV as one of my faves & then give everyone the GV number instead of my cell number. I'll never be tied to a provider again! I have (tried to) use my iPhone here in Atlanta and in SF when I lived there, and service really stunk both places. Kate, I had the same problem here in Atlanta (plus dropped calls or calls sounding like I was underwater, too). There were many places where I had absolutely NO service.. places in high density city areas, even... I live 20 min from downtown ATL for crying out loud! I saw a blog post that said Apple *expects at least* 30% dropped calls on average with AT&T. It is here: http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/09/30/sign.of.poor.att.coverage Amazing. I can't believe that is acceptable to them!!! Isn’t it amazing? I did this too, and I can’t believe how much better my service is. I don’t even miss 3G (or visual voicemail, for that matter). For the most part I find that Edge is fine for checking email, getting directions/maps, and looking stuff up quickly. I’m usually around some wi-fi anyway, so it’s not a big deal.

My phone bill is SO much lower now too, mainly because of the my faves plan plus Google Voice. I use GV as one of my faves & then give everyone the GV number instead of my cell number. I’ll never be tied to a provider again! I have (tried to) use my iPhone here in Atlanta and in SF when I lived there, and service really stunk both places.
Kate, I had the same problem here in Atlanta (plus dropped calls or calls sounding like I was underwater, too). There were many places where I had absolutely NO service.. places in high density city areas, even… I live 20 min from downtown ATL for crying out loud!

I saw a blog post that said Apple *expects at least* 30% dropped calls on average with AT&T. It is here: http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/09/30/sign.of.poor.att.coverage

Amazing. I can’t believe that is acceptable to them!!!

]]> By: Kate http://srobbin.com/blog/goodbye-att-im-out/#comment-692 Kate Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:21:10 +0000 http://srobbin.com/blog/?p=374#comment-692 What if the problem is not that I get dropped, but that I have NO SERVICE (or SOS service) in areas where the coverage map on their website indicates I should have spectacular service? My calls aren't getting dropped, I just can't make any because my phone is telling me I have no service! What if the problem is not that I get dropped, but that I have NO SERVICE (or SOS service) in areas where the coverage map on their website indicates I should have spectacular service? My calls aren’t getting dropped, I just can’t make any because my phone is telling me I have no service!

]]> By: Scott Robbin http://srobbin.com/blog/goodbye-att-im-out/#comment-691 Scott Robbin Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:51:24 +0000 http://srobbin.com/blog/?p=374#comment-691 Paul: Excellent point. I've updated the steps above. Cocoa326: Yes, I <em>believe</em> that someone would have to jail break an iPhone so that it could be used on AT&T. ;) Naz: Those meetings were exactly the reason this was escalated. You're a saint for tolerating so many of them. Paul: Excellent point. I’ve updated the steps above.

Cocoa326: Yes, I believe that someone would have to jail break an iPhone so that it could be used on AT&T. ;)

Naz: Those meetings were exactly the reason this was escalated. You’re a saint for tolerating so many of them.

]]> By: Chris H http://srobbin.com/blog/goodbye-att-im-out/#comment-690 Chris H Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:31:59 +0000 http://srobbin.com/blog/?p=374#comment-690 Just get a phone that works on Tmob's frequencies and you're in business. Just get a phone that works on Tmob’s frequencies and you’re in business.

]]> By: Naz http://srobbin.com/blog/goodbye-att-im-out/#comment-689 Naz Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:15:04 +0000 http://srobbin.com/blog/?p=374#comment-689 I was wondering if you had given up on the iPhone when you mentioned you were no longer with AT&T. Considering how many meetings we've had where you've dropped off a conference call, I completely understand. I think this is fair and good on AT&T for letting you switch. I was wondering if you had given up on the iPhone when you mentioned you were no longer with AT&T. Considering how many meetings we’ve had where you’ve dropped off a conference call, I completely understand.

I think this is fair and good on AT&T for letting you switch.

]]> By: Cocoa326 http://srobbin.com/blog/goodbye-att-im-out/#comment-688 Cocoa326 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:12:19 +0000 http://srobbin.com/blog/?p=374#comment-688 Did you have to *jail break* your phone to use on t-mobile? Did you have to *jail break* your phone to use on t-mobile?

]]> By: Paul Smith http://srobbin.com/blog/goodbye-att-im-out/#comment-687 Paul Smith Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:05:04 +0000 http://srobbin.com/blog/?p=374#comment-687 Nice work, Scott. My wife is a consummate customer-service-get-things-out-of-er, and she'd be impressed :) One thing for others who are contemplating following this advice to consider: if your main complaint with AT&T is about poor service, you may get push-back on that, because that's so subjective, right, and what proof do you the lowly customer have? You're just trying to get out of your contract, you lousy sonofa. The thing to remember is their systems software knows each and every time your phone makes a network connection with a cell tower. And of course they know exactly when your calls began and ended. Therefore they know -- or could easily figure out, if they correlated these two pieces of data -- exactly how many dropped calls you've had! It's unlikely they make the network handshakes data available to their CSRs, but you could use awareness of this info to push back with. Nice work, Scott. My wife is a consummate customer-service-get-things-out-of-er, and she’d be impressed :)

One thing for others who are contemplating following this advice to consider: if your main complaint with AT&T is about poor service, you may get push-back on that, because that’s so subjective, right, and what proof do you the lowly customer have? You’re just trying to get out of your contract, you lousy sonofa. The thing to remember is their systems software knows each and every time your phone makes a network connection with a cell tower. And of course they know exactly when your calls began and ended. Therefore they know — or could easily figure out, if they correlated these two pieces of data — exactly how many dropped calls you’ve had! It’s unlikely they make the network handshakes data available to their CSRs, but you could use awareness of this info to push back with.

]]> By: Scott Robbin http://srobbin.com/blog/goodbye-att-im-out/#comment-686 Scott Robbin Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:54:21 +0000 http://srobbin.com/blog/?p=374#comment-686 Ah, that's the part I forgot to mention. No, visual voicemail doesn't work; neither does 3G (T-mobile is on a different 3G frequency than AT&T). It's sad to see those features go, but they're made up for by the fact that I can consistently place/receive calls; I'm saving ~$40 a month on a comparable minutes/data plan; and I have no contract with T-mobile, it's month-to-month. Plus, AT&T's 3G was rarely available, so it doesn't really feel like I'm losing the speed. Ah, that’s the part I forgot to mention. No, visual voicemail doesn’t work; neither does 3G (T-mobile is on a different 3G frequency than AT&T).

It’s sad to see those features go, but they’re made up for by the fact that I can consistently place/receive calls; I’m saving ~$40 a month on a comparable minutes/data plan; and I have no contract with T-mobile, it’s month-to-month. Plus, AT&T’s 3G was rarely available, so it doesn’t really feel like I’m losing the speed.

]]>